Detachable lift for shoes



, 1937- F. T. GENTILE 2,070,229

DETACHABLE LIFT FOR SHOES Original Filed June 22, 1933 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 9, 1937 EED srarss PATENT OFFIQE Application June 22, 1933, Serial No. 677,097 Renewed March 6, 1936 3 Claims.

This invention relates to lifts for shoes and particularly to removable and replaceable lifts which do not require nailing into place.

An object of this invention resides in the provision of an improved and novel heel construction especially adapted for use on womens shoes where the heel cross section is relatively small and which consists in embedding a tube of polygonal cross section in the heel and providing a shank member which carries the lift and is adapted to be snugly inserted into the tube.

Another object of the invention is to provide: a heel tube of polygonal cross section the walls of which are plain and undisturbed by projections, indentations and openings or the like, for economical reasons.

Another object is in the provision of a shank formed from a fiat blank of metal, having a seam wherein the two lateral edges are somewhat spaced apart to provide a shank which may be contracted at the top to afford easy entry in the heel tube and which would naturally resume its normal shape after entry to firmly and snugly fit the tube.

A further object is in the provision of a shank having a portion of one wall formed. into a spring member adapted to frictionally coact with one wall of the heel tube to retain the shank therein.

A still further object is in the provision of a roughening or knurling on the outer face of the spring member to: further assist in retaining the shank in firm assembly with the heel tube,

Another object is in the provision of a shank of polygonal cross section the corners of which may be vertically slitted from the top downward so each wall thereof is and performs the functions of a spring to maintain proper assembly between the shank and the heel tube.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, illustrating several preferred embodiments of the invention, and in which:-

Figure 1 is a sectional view thru a heel showing a preferred form of lift attaching means.

Figure 2 is a plan view, to an enlarged scale, of a shank and heel assembly and having thestructural features shown in Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof.

Figure 4; is a vertical sectional view as taken along the line l4 of Fig. 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of an alternate form of shank construction.

Figure 6 is a plan View thereof.

Figures '7 and 8 are respectively side elevational and plan views of another form of shank construction.

In the drawing, and with special reference to Figs. 1 to 4, the heel of a womans shoe is shown at Hi. It is provided with a substantially vertical bore ll into which is tightly and non-removably fitted a tube 12 of preferably polygonal cross section. The tube, in this instance, is shown as having a triangular cross section and is preferably made plain and sans projections, indentations or openings, and of a, metal such as soft aluminum, brass or the like, for reasons later set forth.

The shank I3 is preferably formed from a fiat blank of metal into a shape commensurate to the shape of the heel tube and of a size to snugly and tightly fit therein. The two: lateral edges of the blank are preferably spaced from each other, as at 14, when the blank is formed into the shank to provide slight resiliency in the two adjacent walls thereof. In this manner the shank may be contracted slightly when entering the heel tube and then would naturally expand to its normal shape to; hug the inner faces thereof. In addition the lateral edges of the shank metal at the seam l4, would bite into the heel tube to afford further retaining means of the shank in the tube.

The shank may also be provided with a slightly offset spring tongue portion I5 which may be formed in one of the walls of the shank adjacent the seam. All, or a portion, of this tongue may be provided on its outer face with roughening or knurling l6 which is adapted to bite into the cooperating inner face of the heel tube as the tongue tends to resume its offset condition after assembly.

It is apparent from the above that an attaching means is provided which would permit ready assembly, but which would resist inadvertent disassembly to a degree in keeping with the purpose intended.

The shank may be provided with claws, prongs or tines ll, which are adapted to extend thru the lift I8 and to be bent inwardly towards each other as shown at H).

To insure a rigid union between shank and lift the claws are first bent outward, as at 28, to provide a larger base.

In the form of shank shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the tongue l5a is shown as formed from a wall of the shank opposite the open seam i i, the

knurled or serrated portion ifia being similar to that above described, In this manner, a shank is provided which, when fitted into the heel tube will tend to grip the inner faces thereof, the spring action of the tongue l5a forcing the edges of the seam M into the metal of the heel tube.

Figs. '7 and 8, illustrate a shank of triangular cross section in which the seam i4 is provided as heretofore described and in which the other corners of the shank are slitted as at lea forming a shank which may be contracted at the top to afford easy insertion into the heel tube and which after assembly therein may not become readily displaced therefrom, due to the hugging action of the walls of the shank which are each free to frictionally engage against cooperating portions of the heel tube.

Although the above improvements have been described in considerable detail and with re spect to certain particular forms of the invention, no limitations as to detail is intended since changes and modifications in the forms, arrangements, proportions and sizes thereof may well be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest aspect.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

1. A heel having a hollow metal tube of polygonal cross section non-removably fitted therein and extending vertically thru the lower portion of the heel and thru the substantial vertical center thereof, a polygonal sheet metal shank removably fitted in said hollow tube, said shank being formed from a blank of sheet metal to provide a space between the free edges thereof whereby resiliency in the walls adjacent the space is afforded, an integral spring tongue on one of the walls of the shank adapted to force the free edges of the shank into engagement with inner corner portions of the hollow tube, claw means on the shank, and a lift carried by the claw means and held in contact with the bottom of the heel.

2. A heel having a hollow metal tube of polygonal cross section non-removably fitted therein and extending vertically thru the lower portion of the heel and thru the substantial vertical center thereof, a polygonal sheet metal shank removably fitted in said hollow tube, said shank being provided with an integral spring tongue adapted to force portions of the shank into frictional engagement with cooperating inner faces of the hollow tube, serrations at the lower end of the spring tongue adapted to bite into the metal of the hollow tube, claw means on the shank, and a lift carried by the claw means and held in contact with the bottom of the heel.

3. A detachable lift for shoe heels co1nprisin? a member adapted to enter said heel, said member comprising a polygonal sheet metal shank of substantially uniform cross section throughout its length, one wall of said shank being provided with a spring tongue, said tongue being integrally formed to one end portion of the mentioned wall and extending towards the opposite end portion thereof.

FRANK T. GENTILE. 

